temperamental

adjective

ˌtem-p(ə-)rə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce temperamental (audio)
Definition of temperamentalnext
1
as in moody
frequently influenced by moods and especially bad moods one of those temperamental actresses who can make life difficult for everyone around her

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly stock prices have been pretty temperamental lately, often fluctuating wildly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of temperamental Your 3rd House of Communication is stirred by the temperamental Moon, while the life-giving Sun boosts your 7th House of Partnership, aligning words with steady commitments. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026 All the while, the solar panel sat off to one side against the car, topping up the power in dribs and drabs as the temperamental Melbourne weather allowed. — Mike McRae 04, New Atlas, 5 July 2026 But the temperamental Lanza dropped out after recording his songs, and British actor Edmund Purdom acted his role and mouthed the songs. — ABC News, 26 June 2026 The machine's temperamental nature began to bother her. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for temperamental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temperamental
  1. moody
  2. volatile
  3. impulsive
  4. unpredictable
  5. unstable
Adjective
  • From there, nutty chestnut, rich cocoa, and tart black currant add contrasting moody elements, while rose and bergamot add a sense of subtle freshness and flowering.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
  • It’s lightly weighted for extra coziness and comes in rich fall-ready hues like terracotta and chestnut to make your bedroom feel moodier.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of moody
Adjective
  • Global oil prices have been volatile in recent weeks amid heightened uncertainty about potential outcomes from the Iran war.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Those nitrogen oxides combine with volatile organic compounds on hot summer days, and the pollution contributes to climate change and harms human health.
    — Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of volatile
Adjective
  • Duke responds with an act of impulsive violence that leads to nearly eight years of incarceration.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
  • That’s only made worse by the fact that it’s treated as some kind of grand betrayal rather than an impulsive act of youthful stupidity that will make for a good story one day.
    — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
Definition of impulsive
Adjective
  • During the flight, crews are in constant communication with meteorological teams across the globe to track unpredictable weather patterns.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Within these spaces, designed to produce idealized performances of femininity, the unpredictable rhythms of postpartum life become a quiet act of disruption.
    — Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of unpredictable
Adjective
  • Also screening is Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur, another feature from Cannes, following a successful company director called Gleb, who finds himself under siege from mounting corporate pressures and an increasingly unstable world.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Federal prosecutors said the men exploited three girls who had run away from foster care, taking advantage of their ages, unstable living situations and lack of family support.
    — Eric Weiss, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of unstable

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Cite this Entry

“Temperamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temperamental. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on temperamental

Nglish: Translation of temperamental for Spanish Speakers

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